“I don’t think there’s even music for whatever our drum is beating.” Branson returned his smile, though, positive emotions shining in his eyes. “You know, for the first time since I got served, I feel like things are going to be okay. For as mad as I was at my parents, they didn’t do anything maliciously. They obeyed a gag order and kept me safe.”
His insides warmed with pride, and Tarius reached out to squeeze Branson’s wrist. “That’s a very mature perspective. You’re giving your parents a lot of grace.”
“They’ve earned it, especially Dad. I helped him proofread his memoir. I know the darkness he carries with him. I don’t want to cause him more pain than he’s already endured, you know? I can be selfish with my anger for a little longer today, but I can’t keep it up. That’s not who I am. It’s not who I want to be.”
“I’m glad.” Tarius stood and pulled Branson into his arms. Hugged his boyfriend tight, simply to feel him against his chest. Feel his heart beating, his breath tickling his neck, scent his cologne and, beneath, Branson’s unique scent. Beta noses weren’t as attuned as alpha and omega noses, so scents were typically difficult to discern. But not Branson’s, not when Tarius knew what his kisses tasted like. How it felt to sleep close beside him and feel Branson’s breath on his cheek.
“I can’t believe I have another half-brother.” Branson pulled back, but kept his arms tight around Tarius’s waist. “And I guess another half-brother-in-law? It’s so surreal.”
“But also a wonderful gift?” More of a question, asking so he didn’t say the wrong thing.
“An unusual gift, but yeah. Kind of wonderful. Even though there is the slimmest chance the DNA test will be negative for a match, I don’t think it will. I believe we’re brothers. No one could make up a story like that without knowing the truth behind it.”
“Agreed.” Tarius glanced at the microwave clock. “Do you want to talk to your folks now? Or wait until after dinner?”
“Hmm. One sec.” Branson disentangled so he could send a text. Tarius waited, and a reply dinged back quickly. Branson replied. “Dad doesn’t have anything planned for dinner. I said we’d pick up some takeout and bring it over around six, to eat and talk.”
“All right.”
“Do you want to invite Isa and Liam to join us?”
Tarius’s heart kicked up a notch, but this was what they’d planned on doing. Not just dropping the long-lost brotherbomb, but their brief engagement and very imminent marriage of convenience. But also their love. Maybe not the big, messy, showy love that their friends and brothers had found, but it was a love they both treasured. A love that Tarius believed, deep down, could endure through any hardship.
“Yes, I do,” Tarius replied. “I think it’s a good idea we tell everyone at once. My dad knows how to be discreet for a few days, and while Liam will be chomping at the bit to talk about your brother news with Jaysan and Brogan, he’ll respect your request to keep quiet. He did keep the fact that Peyton and Layne were pregnant and mates from his friends for weeks, remember?”
“Very true.” Branson grinned, seeming truly relaxed for the first time all day. “Now the really important question is…where do we order dinner from?”
Tarius laughed and went straight for the drawer where Branson kept his collection of takeout menus.
ELEVEN
“Your silence is drivingme bonkers, you do realize this?” Kell glared at his mate from the dining room archway, arms crossed, while Ronin laid out plates and flatware for six. Emory and Eriq understood that this was a private conversation, and they’d agreed to stay upstairs and try to entertain the triplets in the various bedrooms for the duration, with the promise that food would be saved for them.
“It can’t be helped, little one,” Ronin replied. He’d been the perfect, annoying enigma since returning from his office two hours ago, with only, “The call went well” to say to Kell. Kell understood this was an incredibly personal matter for Branson, but he abhorred being out of the loop on something that directly impacted one of his kids.
Kell Cross did not wear impatience well.
But the fact that Isa and Liam had been invited to join them for dinner told Kell this was a huge announcement. Even bigger than their boys showing up to the Gala together as an official couple. Kell had a hint of what it might be, but it felt way too soon, and much too big. Not impossible, though, not knowing Branson’s great big heart.
A great big heart who’d never shown interest in dating before now, and his heart had chosen someone nearly twice his age. Kell needed to get over that personal quirk and accept that his son knew what and who he wanted, even if Kell would have preferred his choice be closer to Branson’s age than to Kell’s.
Kell strode into the kitchen and fetched a fresh pitcher of sweet tea from the fridge, as well as a half-full two-liter of root beer. He eyeballed the six-pack of actual beer in the back of the fridge, but he didn’t want to send any bad signals when Branson arrived. No alcohol while they discussed this. He carried the beverages to the dining table, and he was about to go get cups when the front door opened on a loud knock.
Kell and Ronin stepped into the foyer as a unit. Branson held the door for Tarius, who came in carrying a large paper carryout bag that brought with it the strong scents of tomato and garlic. Both men were smiling and relaxed, and that settled a fraction of Kell’s nerves.
Not all, but a fraction. Like, a tenth.
“That smells amazing,” Kell said, stepping forward to take the bag from Tarius. It put him an arm’s reach from Branson. He briefly met Branson’s familiar eyes; Branson offered a half-smile and partial nod.
It was enough.
“We ordered from that new restaurant on the corner of King and 9th,” Tarius said. “They have delicious stuffed shells and garlic knots.”
“Sound scrumptious.” Kell carried the bag into the dining room, so he didn’t do something to make Branson upset with him—like hug his kid. Ronin chatted with the pair quietly in the foyer while Kell unboxed the tray of baked shells with a browned, cheesy top, a bag of warm garlic knots, and a container of tossed salad. A baggie of fixings to go with everything.
Another knock came at the door before anyone joined Kell in the dining room, and then five people were walking in. Isa had a large bottle of wine in his hand. After giving Liam a hug, Kell accepted the wine so he could open it. His fingertips trembled as he worked the corkscrew. Now that the other parents were here, the entire situation was more real.
A big change was coming to the Cross family tonight.
